Guyana’s laws provide for tough penalties against piracy – Prime Minister Nagamootoo

DPI, Guyana, Monday, June 18, 2018

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has reiterated that there are laws of Guyana that provide for tough penalties for persons committing acts of piracy.

In his Sunday column, ‘My Turn’ in the Guyana Chronicle, the Prime Minister commented on the case of the three Guyanese fishermen who have been charged with several counts of murder following the recent piracy attacks in Surinamese waters.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo noted that the Hijacking and Piracy Act (2008), provides Guyana with jurisdiction to try offenders though the act is committed in another country.

He said, “Whatever the motive, I wish to remind all fishing folk and their hired hands that offences at sea carry serious penalties.” These include life imprisonment for hijacking; Life imprisonment for piracy; 10 years imprisonment for covering up a piracy attack, where death resulted and death by hanging, for murder on board a vessel during an armed robbery, hijacking or piracy.

Prime Minister Nagamootoo said with the advent of the coalition government, keen attention has been placed on border security, including monitoring of our fishing and maritime areas. The police force has pursued all cases of piracy with vigour and has produced encouraging results in the number of cases instituted. He said despite challenges, Guyana continues to monitor its vast coastline that stretches for 270 nautical miles from Morawhanna at the mouth of the Barima River, to Corriverton – in the mouth of the Corentyne River.

The Maritime Wing of the Guyana Police Force, the Customs and Anti-narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Defence Force have coordinated both patrols, by sea and air, which are necessary to protect the country’s food-based economic activities, combat trafficking of illicit drugs, fuels and other contraband, and to protect state revenues.

“I believe that Guyana will change with the times and would be inclined to interpret certain articles of our constitution in line with relevant fundamental rights guarantees of international law and conventions on human rights. But there ought to be recognition of public policy demands and the law, as is, that favour punishment that fits the crime.,” Prime Minister Nagamootoo said.

By: Gabreila Patram.